The European Commission today applied sanctions under the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) for the first time ever – and it certainly didn't skimp. Apple is facing a hefty fine of 500 million euros (over $570 million), while Meta was fined 200 million euros (roughly $230 million). According to the Commission, both tech giants violated basic rules of fair competition and restricted user freedom.
When AppThis was a well-known and long-criticized problem. App developers were not allowed to inform users about alternative payment options outside of App Store, and according to the European Commission this limited competition and choice for customers. In other words – Apple tried to keep users as much as possible within its own ecosystem, thereby securing a comfortable share of each transaction.
"Developers who distribute their applications via App Store, should be able to inform customers, free of charge, that there are other options for the offer outside the store Applu. And not only that – they should also be able to direct them to these offers,” the Commission said in its statement.
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Apple It now has 60 days to remove technical and business restrictions and stop acting in violation of the rules. Interestingly, however, the investigation into another area – namely the choice of pre-installed apps – has been closed. Apple According to the Commission, it proactively offered a solution that gives users more options for getting rid of unwanted applications on their iPhone.
Meta earned the fine for its “consent or pay” model, which it launched in November 2023. It forced European users to either agree to combining personal data for targeted advertising or pay extra to use it. Facebookua Instagram without ads. The Commission called this model unfair because it did not give users a truly free choice regarding the handling of their personal data.
Although Meta introduced a modified version of its advertising system in November 2024, it is not yet clear whether the new version will pass the European test. Meta, like Apple, intends to defend itself against the decision.
"The commission is forcing us to change our business model, which means multi-billion dollar losses for us, and at the same time it will lead to worse service for users," said Joel Kaplan from Metay.
From the perspective of the huge budgets of both companies, these are not liquidation amounts – each fine represents roughly 0,1% of their annual revenues. This is well below maxthe 10% threshold allowed by the DMA. But it is still a clear signal that Europe is serious about regulating big tech companies.
Moreover, the decision comes at a time when complex trade negotiations are underway between the EU and the US, and this step may be another in a series of friction points in transatlantic digital relations.
That fine is crazy.
Aren't there enough other and more important problems in Europe, especially the EU and the world? Or does the EU just need to earn dollars to further promote bullshit at the expense of, for example, farmers, etc.? Or is this "revenge" for the stupidity coming from the mouth of the current US president DT, because the EU has fallen asleep?…
Absolutely fine, I'd still put some pressure on them. They'll have it back in a week...
And what happens if they don't pay?
Any educated answer?
Maybe it would take a petition to see if customers want the kind of "free" regulation that turns their phone into a droid.
Here you can see how someone is a beaten sheep, Apple destroys the competition and prohibits payments outside of it so you purchase app it's more expensive than it could be and the sheep are happy 😂 it's the same as if chickens support KFC tvl😂